Apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like



1 L. J. JORDAN 2,225,638

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. '4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1 v

3nuentor LAVERN J. JORDAN (Kttomeg 24, 1940- L. J. JORDAN 2,225,638

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,lmnnm aim 'Jnnentor LAVERN J. JORDAN (Ittorncg Patented Dec. 24, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD on THE. LIKE Lavern J. Jordan, Fairview Village, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 4, 1937, Serial No. 162,513

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to improved apparatus for manufacturing thread or the like in which the thread-forming means are positioned at the upper portion of the apparatus and the thread or the like passes from said thread-forming means to a descending series of thread-advancing thread store devices and thence 10 to suitable collecting means. Apparatus operating on the principle outlined is shown, described, and claimed in prior application Serial No. 7,114, filed February 18, 1935, by Walter F. Knebusch and Alden H. Burkholder. The present invention pertains to apparatus of this type which provides advantages as to construction, operation, accessibility to the various portions of the apparatus for manipulation of the thread or the like, inspection, maintenance and repair, etc.

The present invention will be described as applied to apparatus for the continuous manufacture of viscose artificial silk thread, but it will be understood that the invention is not in any sense limited thereto.

In the drawings, in which is illustrated one form of apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through said apparatus. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus from line 2-4 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of one form of thread-advancing thread store device which may be employed in apparatus embodying the present invention. Figure 4 is a front end elevation of the thread-advancing thread store 35 device of Figure 3. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

In the illustrated apparatus, the thread I is formed by extrusion of viscose from the spinning nozzle 2 into the coagulating bath 3 contained in 40 the trough 4 disposed at the upper portion of the apparatus. The thread is withdrawn from the trough 4 by a suitable thread-advancing thread store device 5 on which the thread is caused to. wind and by which it is advanced axially of the 5 device in a plurality of spaced generally helical turns. After leaving the thread-advancing thread store device 5, the thread passes downward to the first thread-advancing thread store device of a series of which the individual devices are designated 6 to H, inclusive. After leaving the lowermost thread-advancing thread store device, the threadv passes to suitable collecting means such as cap-twister I 5.

The illustrated apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacent thread-producing units, each comprising a spinning nozzle, a thread-advancing thread store device 5, a series of like thread-advancing thread store devices 6 to It, inclusive, and a cap-twister l5. Corresponding thread-advancing thread store devices in adjacent units are 5 disposed in a series extending longitudinally of the machine. Inasmuch as corresponding devices are thus in corresponding positions, advantages are provided in the construction and operation of the apparatus. Among other things, the drive mechanismfor the various portions of the apparatus may as a result of this arrangement be greatly simplified.

While the thread is stored on each of threadadvancing thread store devices 6 to Hi, inclusive, one or more processing operations may be performed thereon, as, for example, desulphurizing, washing, bleaching, etc.

In the apparatus shown, the processing liquid applied to the thread on each of said thread-ad- 20 vancing thread store devices is supplied from a reagent distributor I! which is supplied with liquid from a conduit l8 extending longitudinally of the machine and serving corresponding threadadvancing thread store devices in a horizontal series. The liquid is collected in the trough l9 disposed below the device, said trough extending longitudinally of the machine and likewise serving corresponding devices in a horizontal series. These troughs may communicate with the sewer, if the liquid is one which is to be employed only once, or with suitable recirculating and make-up means if the liquid is one which it is desired to re-use.

0n thread-advancing thread store device I3 the thread may be stored to allow excess liquidto drip therefrom before the thread passes to thread-advancing thread store device It.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the thread is shown as dried on thread-advancing 4o thread store device IA by the action of heated air supplied from duct 20 through hollow drive shaft 2| to the interior of the device, from which, through suitable openings, the heated air passes outward to effect the drying of the thread. The air used for drying is withdrawn through conduit 23 and duct 24, of which the latter, like duct 20, extends longitudinally of the machine, thus serving a large number of thread-advancing thread store devices. Surrounding the thread-advancing thread store devices It is a housing 22 which is divided by suitable partitions 25 into cubicles. provided, if desired, with doors 26.

The number of thread-advancing thread store devices on which the thread is processed may be more or less than that shown, depending upon the number and kind of processing treatments which it is desired to apply.

The thread-advancing thread store devices above discussed may comprise reels of cantilever form, of which the reel of Figures 3 and 4 is illustrative. If the reels are so rotated that the thread is advanced from the supported end of ment with their unsupported ends all extending toward the front of the bank.

The reel of Figures 3 and 4, which is typical of the reels that may be employed to advantage in apparatus embodying the present invention, operates on the same theory and in a manner generally similar to that of the reel shown, described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 652,089, flied January 16, 1933, in the name of Walter F. Knebusch. The illustrated reel comprises two rigid, generally cylindrical members 28 and 29. Member 23, which may be termed the concentric member, is mounted concentrically upon and for rotation with drive shaft 39, its periphery comprising a plurality of bar members 32. Member 29, which may be termed the eccentric member, isrotatably mounted with its axis slightly offset from and inclined to that of concentric member 28, its periphery comprising a plurality of bar members 33 equal in number to bar members 32 and alternately disposed therewith.

Concentric member 28 may be of the form shown, having the bar members 32 disposed on the periphery of the cylindrical body 34, in which case great rigidity is imparted to the bar members 32. While member 28 may be mounted on the drive shaft 39 in various ways, in that shown it is held against a shoulder formed on drive shaft 39 by'a-cap nut 38 which is threaded on the end of said driveshaft. Member 28 is caused to rotate withdrive shaft 39 by means of a, pin 31 which passes through drive shaft 39 and extends member 28.

" Eccentric member 29 may be formed of a rigid cage-like member 39 mounted concentrically upon an-annular supporting member 4|. Said cageiike' member 39 is formed of the aforesaid bar members 33 which are provided at. their outer sealing means 45 may be provided, if desired, to

prevent access of the processing liquid to the bearing members. I

Rotation of the reel drive shaft 38 causes concentric member 28 to rotate, whereupon contact of the bar members 32 of said concentric member with bar members 33 of eccentric member 29 causes said eccentric member to rotate at the same angular speed. During such rotation, the

thread supplied to the reel is wound thereon, the offset relationship of the axes of the two reel members causing-the thread to transfer from the bar members of one generally. cylindrical reel member to those of the other reel member. 81- 8 multaneously, the inclined relationship of the -generally cylindrical reel members causes the thread to advance longitudinally of the reel in a plurality of spaced generally helical turns, the direction of 'the inclination of the reel members being, of course, such that the thread is caused to advance in the desired direction lengthwise of the reel during the rotation of said reel members in the desired direction. 7 All reels may be of the same general type and 14 operate in the same manner, reel l4 being suitably modifled to permit the heated drying air to be applied to the thread from the interior of the reel.

Each of reels 8 to l4, inclusive, in each vertical series may be driven through gears 48 and 41 from a drive shaft 48, which is driven by a drive shaft 49 extending longitudinally of the machine and is adapted to rotate the drive shafts 48 for the various series of reels. As illustrated in the drawings, the thread preferably passes directly from drying reel l4 to a cap-twister II, which may be actuated in any suitable manner. In the apparatus illustrated, a belt 3| driven by a rapidly rotating drum 82 rapidly rotates the bobbin-supporting whirls 53 for a pair of adjacent cap-twisters, while said whirls are vertically reciprocated by suitable means. not shown.

In the illustrated apparatus, the reels 8 extend in the same direction as do processing reels 8 to l4, inclusive, the working face of the trough 4 in which the thread is formed; 1. e., the face of the trough from which the operator has access to the trough, being accessible from the same side of the machine as are the processing reels. The reels 5 are thus disposed above the trough with their unsupported ends extending toward the working face of the trough. Each of said reels is supported from a housing 54 carried by a frame member 35 at the rear of the trough 4, being driven from a drive shaft 56 which extends longitudinally of the machine and drives the several reels 8.

Each thread i is withdrawn from the spinning nozzle in which it is formed by the corresponding reel 5, by which reel it is also advanced toward the working face of the trough. The thread leaves said reel at the unsupported end thereof and passes vertically downward through a channel 51 alongside the working face of said trough. In the illustrated embodiment of the'invention, channel 51 is disposed outside of said trough on the same side thereof as working deck 88. The channel 51 protects and provides a clear passage for the thread as it passes to the succeeding reel 8, which is the first of the series of processing reels.

In the embodiment shown, the space above the coagulating bath is enclosed by a hood 59 which serves to collect and provide for the withdrawal of fumes given oil during the spinning operation. Said hood 59 is provided with sliding doors 69, 8|, which extend longitudinallyof the apparatus by means of which access may be had to the trough 4, reels 5, etc. The doors 80, 8|, may. as illustrated, be slidable in separate tracks disposed at the edge of the working deck and at the front of the hood, so that they may overlap when they are retracted to provide access to the trough. Thus, in Figure 2, the doors are disposed in a position in which one overlaps the other to pro- 7 vide access to the reel 6 at the left-hand end of ious ways.

61 and 68 carrying said platforms.

the machine.

In the illustrated apparatus, platforms are provided from which operators may have access to the various parts of the machine. From platform 63, disposed adjacent the upper portion of the bank of reels 6 to l4, inclusive, access may be had to the thread-forming means including the coagulating trough 4, spinnerets 2, reels 6, the spinning pumps, etc., for operating and maintenance purposes. From platform 64, disposed below platform 63 and adjacent the lower portion of the series of processing reels, access may be had to the reels on which liquid processing treatments are applied to the thread. From the floor below platform 64 access may be had to the drying means and thread-collecting devices.

Platforms 63 and 64 may be supported in var- Thus in the apparatus shown, one end of each of platforms 63 and 64 is supported by stanchions 66 to which are fixed cross beams The opposite ends of cross beams 61 for upper platform 63 are fixed to the frame of the machine, while the corresponding ends of cross beams 66 for lower platform 64 are supported by stanchions 69. A hand rail 65 for the convenience of the operators on platform 64 is shown as supported by members 10 from the cross beams 61 for the upper vided on the platforms. The design of the apparatus is preferably such, and the platforms 63 and 64 are preferably so spaced, that sufflcient headroom for the operators is provided between the floor and lower platform 64 and between upper and lower platforms 63 and 64.

The machine as a whole therefore comprises a multi-stage machine in which the various operating steps may be performed by separate operators each performing specialized operations at which he is skilled. This makes for an advantageous sub-division of labor and permits the employment of labor which is less costly than would otherwise be the case. Thus an operator standing on upper platform 63 need work only at the thread-forming means. An operator standing on lower platform 64 may work only at the processing reels on which liquid processing treatments are applied. In the illustrated apparatus the lower platform 64 is so positioned that it lends itself to a scheme of operations in which the operator standing on said platform handles only the wet thread. The

operator standing on the floor below said platform attends to the collecting means, the drying reels, etc., and handles only the dry thread.

There is no necessity for the operators to work simultaneously at the spinmng nozzles, reels, collecting devices, etc., comprising a single threadproducing unit, with consequent loss of time, since each operator on upper platform 63 may tend a plurality of thread-forming units extending lengthwise of the machine. Each operator standing on lower platform 64 may work at several vertical series of reels, while each of the operators standing on the floor below the lower platform may likewise attend several drying reels and collecting devices. For instance, an operator on the upper platform may start several threads from the spinning nozzles over reels 6 and down through channels 51. An operator standing on the floor may, at his convenience, start the thread on'the drying reels and collect- 1 ing means.

Moreover, the present invention makes it possible for the operators to perform their duties without excessive movement about the apparatus, with'a consequent savings in operators time.

For such reasons, and since when each operator performs only those tasks at which he is skilled he will require less time for his duties than would otherwise be the case, it is apparent that a very economical utilization of the operators time is made possible. Because of this fact and since, as explained above, a lower grade and consequently lower priced labor may be employed, the present invention makes possible great reductions in the-labor costs required to produce the thread. Not only is the production of thread per man per hour greatly increased, but a great reduction is effected in the cost of production of the thread.

Furthermore, since the thread-forming means, processing reels, collecting devices, etc., are all accessible from the same side of the machine, numerous other advantages are derived from the invention. For instance, it is possible to construct a very compact machine which is extremely economical of floor space, such as is the machine illustrated, sincethe various operating stages are superposed. If, for instance, it were necessary to have access to the various thread-producing portions of themachine from both sides, it is I apparent that much greater floor space would be required. lt is likewise apparent that the arrangementof the. present invention makes possible a machine which, due toits simplicity of design, may be constructed at low cost.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is obvious that various'changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, threadadvancing thread store devices other than the reel shown may be employed. In the appended claims, the term "thread" is intended to include, besides thread per se, all continuous length material capable of being manufactured by or handled by apparatus embraced by the claims.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by

' suitable expression in the appended claims,

whatever features of pa'tentable novelty reside in the invention. I

What is claimed is:

LApparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a coagulating trough having a working deck along-one side thereof; thread-forming means in said trough, said thread-forming means being accessible from said working deck; a cantilever thread store.device to which the thread passes from said thread-forming means disposed above said trough with its unsupported end extending toward said working deck; a descending series of cantilever thread store devices to which the thread passes from said first-mentioned thread store. device, the unsupported ends of all said thread store devices extending toward the side of the apparatus on which said working deck is located; and means for collecting the thread.

2. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a coagulating trough having a working deck along one side thereof; thread-forming means in said trough, said thread-forming means being accessible from said working deck; a descending series of cantilever thread store devices to whichthe thread passes from said trough, the unsupported ends of all said thread store devices extending toward the side of the apparatus on which said working deck is located; and means for collecting the thread.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a coagulating trough having a working deck along one side thereof; thread-forming said thread-forming means being accessible from said working deck; a thread storedevice of cantilever form disposed above the level 01 liquid in said trough to which the thread passes from said thread-forming means, said thread store device having its unsupported end extending toward said working deck; and, disposed below said trough, a plurality of thread store devices of cantilever for'm mounted with their axes at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said troughto which the thread passes in sequence from said first-mentioned thread store device, the unsupported ends of said thread store devices extending toward the side of the apparatus on which said working deck is located.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinally extending coagulating trough having a working deck along one side thereof; means in said trough for forming thread, said thread-forming means being accessible from said working deck; means for withdrawing the thread from said trough and-passing it downward beyond the lateral limits or said trough; and, disposed below said trough, a plurality of thread store devices of cantilever form mounted with their axes at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said trough to which thread store devices the thread passes in sequence, the unsupported ends of said thread store devices extending toward the side of the apparatus on which said working deck is located.

, 6. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a'longitudinally extending coagulating trough having a working deck along one side thereof; means in said trough for forming thread,

said thread-forming means being accessible from the working face of said trough; and, disposed belowsaid trough, a plurality of thread store devices of cantilever form mounted with their axes substantially at right angles to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said trough to which thread store devices the thread passes'in sequence, the unsupported ends of said thread store devices extending toward the side of the apparatus on which said working deck is located.

LAVERN J. JORDAN. 

